Eugene Platt’s Concession Statement
November 22, 2006
TO: Supporters, friends, family, news media, others
FROM: Eugene Platt
DATE: November 22, 2006 (Noon)
The 2006 race for House District Seat 115 is over. I accepted the inevitable yesterday, a day on which the Lowcountry saw a rare snowfall. Somehow, such a day, dismal with cold rain and biting wind, seemed poetically appropriate for the end of what many considered to be a quixotic campaign by a Democratic challenger to unseat a three-term Republican incumbent in what is, statistically, a Republican district.
I have left messages for Wallace Scarborough this morning conceding the election and conveying my congratulations. While Mr. Scarborough and I are not likely ever to be close friends, I do respect him as a brother-in-Christ and, accordingly, wish him well.
I want to express heartfelt gratitude for the support given to me in the election by approximately half of all who voted. Indeed, of those who voted on Election Day, slightly over half did vote for me. But, obviously, my opponent did a bit better with absentee ballots and with them was able to overcome my electon night lead of 98 votes. So it goes.
There were too many who helped me with contributions, political guidance, and volunteer work to name here but they know who they are and I am grateful to each one. But I must acknowledge my beloved son Paul, who served as campaign manager. As such, he was extremely effective and, among other things, created an extraordinary campaign website—which can still be visited: http://www.voteplatt.com
As much as anything else, this loss saddens me because I had dedicated the campaign to the loving memory of my wife Mary, who died of breast cancer in 2003. Mary was not only a devoted wife, but also a beautiful human being who believed a better world was possible. I wanted so much to win for her.
But my public service is not finished. I remain an elected member of the James Island Public Service District Commission, having served since 1993. I continue to be grateful to the good people of James Island, who most recently reelected me in 2004 as the top votegetter among all the candidates. As the senior member of the Commission in length of service, I look forward to continuing in that role, which I deem one of the highest honors of my life. God willing, I shall continue to serve these good people conscientiously and faithfully.
Eugene Platt